What Happened To Season 5 Winner Danny Veltri & Fornelletto

Summary Danny Veltri won Hell's Kitchen season 5 and worked briefly at Fornelletto before starting his own catering company.

He struggled post-fame, getting a DUI and changing jobs frequently, but seems to be focusing on family now.

Veltri is a devoted father, sharing precious moments with his daughter on Instagram, and living a low-key life in 2024.

Danny Veltri won Hell's Kitchen season 5 on May 14, 2009, and there's curiosity about what he's been up to. In addition to $250,000, the victorious chef was told he would win a head chef position at Fornelletto at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. It was the coup of a lifetime, and Danny was ecstatic to be able to work at such a fantastic hotel. While Gordon Ramsay sometimes goes too far, Hell's Kitchen remains a popular cooking show.

He entered the competition at age 23. Since he was so young, many of Danny's competitors didn't see him as a real threat. Danny was known for his arrogant attitude, which was noticeable right from the start. While he had an ego, he also had impressive culinary skills. Danny worked hard and listened to the meme-worthy Gordon's constructive criticism. At the end of the season, Gordon said that Danny won the competition because he kept growing as a chef.

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Danny Veltri's Life After Hell's Kitchen

Danny Veltri Never Really Changed Lanes

Originally from Edgewater, Florida, Danny relocated to Atlantic City, New Jersey, after winning Hell's Kitchen. He moved in order to work at Fornelletto at the Borgata. He was told he would be the Head Chef at the newly-opened restaurant. However, when he arrived, he was made a Sous Chef instead.

Due to that disappointment, Danny stayed at Fornelletto for just a few months. After leaving the eatery, he returned to his home in the Sunshine State. In a Reddit post shared by u/Chuck_E_Sleeze, who claims to have worked with Danny in Florida before and after his time in Hell's Kitchen, the social media user dissed Danny, saying:

"He came back kind of jaded."

According to this source, Danny returned home to escape a less-than-ideal working situation.

Danny Started A Catering Company After Hell's Kitchen

His Company Is No Longer Active

Danny started his own business, Back From Hell Catering, while in Florida. This name was a play on words which referenced his return from filming Hell's Kitchen. The company didn't last long, as per Mashed. However, he was soon busy with a new venture - assisting with the opening of Gnarly Surf Bar & Grill, an upscale restaurant on the beach, where he served as the General Manager.

Danny changed jobs a lot. Hopefully, nowadays, he has more stability in his career.

After that, Danny was offered an Executive Chef position at Vince Carter's Restaurant in Daytona Beach. In 2012, Danny was arrested for driving under the influence. According to TMZ, a witness saw him attempt to purchase alcohol at a gas station around four in the morning. The clerk wouldn't sell the booze to him. After that, Danny fell asleep in the driver's seat of his vehicle with the engine on. He was released on $500 bail.

Life after reality fame can be tough. Danny stumbled and got a DUI, and other celebs have also had trouble after appearing on popular unscripted shows. Even Gordon Ramsay's had scandals, including a shockingly bitter feud with his own father-in-law. Gordon was also accused of infidelity. People who dream of appearing on these types of series should be aware of the pitfalls.

Danny Veltri Talked About His Hell's Kitchen Experience

Danny Veltri Is A Talented Chef

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As per an interview posted at the Food Network YouTube channel, Danny was very emotional during his Hell's Kitchen experience. That show is designed to test its participants - Gordon's criticism is frequently brutal, and contestants turn on each other. When the finale rolled around, Danny was filled with trepidation. Standing in front of the door, not knowing what was going to happen, was nerve-wracking. Danny believes that his monkfish dish helped him to win the competition, calling it the:

poor man's lobster

Danny has worked hard to get where he is. He took his first job at the age of 14. He always wanted to be a part of the culinary industry, so he did whatever it took to gain traction in that niche. For example, he got used to:

scrubbing pots and pans

, as he knew that he needed to gain skills. Whatever he learned would help him to move up later on.

His strategy worked as he ended up winning one of the most prestigious cooking competitions around, Hell's Kitchen. However, as he competed on the show, he found the "pressure" crushing. There was so much to worry about, from the risk of failure to the job he'd need to do (at Forneletto) if he won. Today, he seems chilled-out, prioritizing quality time with family and friends, as per Danny's Instagram.

Danny Vetri Is Still Into Food

Danny Vetri's Last Instagram Post Was In Dec. 2023

At Instagram, Danny's gone radio silent. He hasn't posted on IG since Dec. 2, 2023. Danny's final post (for the moment, anyway) is shown above. He added a photo of him and a buddy at a Fort Lauderfale, Florida eatery, Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar. The duo appeared very relaxed as they hung out and enjoyed some comfort food. The "OG" Primanti Bros. opened in Pittsburgh back in 1933. The eatery's known for offering pizza, boneless wings and sandwiches.

While Danny wasn't indulging in gourmet cuisine, he definitely knows how to prepare it. He isn't actively promoting his career online, and Danny's LinkedIn appears to be out of date, as it doesn't include a "closed for business" date for his catering company. Right now, Danny may be more focused on family. Perhaps his brush with fame didn't pan out the way he expected. It's also possible that maturing changed his priorities.

Danny Vetri Loves His Daughter

Danny Vetri Seems Like A Devoted Dad

Danny's very proud to be a father, and he shows his love for his little girl on Instagram. The doting dad enjoyed a fun-filled Halloween with his child on October 31, 2023. Danny dressed as a hippie while his daughter wore a spookier costume that included cute "space buns" and scar makeup. The picture was taken during the scenic "golden hour." and father and daughter looked great. Perhaps they were about to go trick or treating.

Danny Veltri Is Living A Low-Key Life In 2024

Danny Veltri Seems To Be Ducking The Spotlight

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As for Fornelletto, after Danny left the restaurant, it continued to operate within the Borgata until 2017, when several other fine dining options replaced it. The Hell's Kitchen alum seems to be doing well, although it seems like his star power has dimmed a little since his reality TV stint.

Sources: Danny Veltri/Instagram, u/Chuck_E_Sleeze/Reddit, Mashed, TMZ, Food Network, Danny Veltri/Instagram, Danny Veltri/LinkedIn, Danny Veltri/Instagram

Hell's Kitchen is available for streaming on Hulu.

Hell's Kitchen Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Gordon Ramsay , Jason Thompson , Roger Craig Smith Release Date May 30, 2005